The Meaning of Job 21:7 Explained

Job 21:7

KJV: Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?

YLT: Wherefore do the wicked live? They have become old, Yea, they have been mighty in wealth.

Darby: Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power?

ASV: Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Wherefore do the wicked  live,  become old,  yea, are mighty  in power? 

What does Job 21:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Job 21:1-34 - "shall Any Teach God?"
After a brief introduction, in which he claims the right to reply, Job 21:1-6, Job brings forward a new argument. He affirms that his friends are wrong in assuming that the connection between sin and suffering is invariable. On the contrary, he urges that wicked men often spend their lives in prosperity, on the farm, in the fold, and in the home, Job 21:10-11. Sounds of joy issue from their dwellings, Job 21:12. They die without prolonged torture, Job 21:13. From the contention of his friends, Job turns to the passer-by for confirmation of his words. Surely, he says, it is a matter of common observation that some wicked men do prosper and die in peace, Job 21:29.
With Job's answer the second colloquy ends. His friends have gained nothing by their arguments, but Job has learned much by his afflictions. On the dark background of his night the Morning Star has actually begun to shine. He appeals to God with greater confidence and even finds refuge in Him; but so far, though arguing his case, he has preserved a humble and reverent attitude. [source]

Chapter Summary: Job 21

1  Job shows that even in the judgment of man he has reason to be grieved
7  Sometimes the wicked prosper, though they despise God
16  Sometimes their destruction is manifest
21  The happy and unhappy are alike in death
27  The judgment of the wicked is in another world

What do the individual words in Job 21:7 mean?

Why the wicked do live [and] become old Yes become mighty in power
מַדּ֣וּעַ רְשָׁעִ֣ים יִחְי֑וּ עָ֝תְק֗וּ גַּם־ גָּ֥בְרוּ ؟ חָֽיִל

מַדּ֣וּעַ  Why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: מַדּוּעַ  
Sense: why?, on what account?, wherefore?.
רְשָׁעִ֣ים  the  wicked 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רָשָׁע  
Sense: wicked, criminal.
יִחְי֑וּ  do  live 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חָיָה  
Sense: to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health.
עָ֝תְק֗וּ  [and]  become  old 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: עָתַק  
Sense: to move, proceed, advance, move on, become old, be removed.
גַּם־  Yes 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
גָּ֥בְרוּ  become  mighty 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: גָּבַר  
Sense: to prevail, have strength, be strong, be powerful, be mighty, be great.
؟ חָֽיִל  in  power 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חַיִל 
Sense: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army.